Hand tachistoscope



S p 1954 J. STOYANOFF HAND TACHISTOSCOPE Filed Nov. 8, 1952 even thismonth FIG.3.

- INVENTOR. LOUIS J. STOYANQFF WWW A TORNEY Patented Sept. 21, 1954UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAND TACHISTOSGOPE Louis J. Stoyanofi,Brentwood, Mo. Application Nov-ember 8, 1952, Serial No. 319,531

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to devices for aiding in rapid reading trainingand consists particularly in a novel hand operated tachistoscope.

A tachistoscope is a type of reading training device which causes rapid,momentary exposure to view of a figure, word, number, or the like totest and train the users ability to perceive the nature and/or meaningof the matter viewed under such conditions. However, most rapid readingtraining devices are too complicated and expensive for use by individualstudents and, thus, require the formation of classes. According to mypresent invention, which avoids this difficulty, an effective, simple,and inexpensive tachistoscope is constructed of a pack of laterallyresilient leaves or cards, bound at one end and free at the other, withprovision for ready insertion of a marked card intermediately in thepack, the unit being adapted for rapid, momentary exposure of the markedcard when the pack is flexed and the cards serially released or flippedat their free ends.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the bound pack of cards lying face downand ready for insertion of a marked card.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a stack of marked cards which may beconsecutively inserted intermediately into the bound pack of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the front face of the bound pack, portionsbeing broken away to illustrate the structure for receiving andpositioning an inserted card.

Figs. 4 and 5 show the bound pack with a different card insert inposition and being flipped in the normal manner of usage.

The novel tachistoscopic device consists of a pack of cards l, stapledtogether at one end, as at t, and individually free at the other.Intermediately of the pack, at the bound end, there is provided acut-off card or spacer 9, also stapled at 83, which provides a recess [0for reception of a marked, unbound card to complete the tachistoscope. Afree edge of one of the bound cards, adjacent recess It, is providedwith a distinctive marking E i to facilitate location of the recess andinsertion of the marked card thereinto. Fig. 3 shows an unbound cardcarrying a tachistoscopic legend properly inserted within the recess IDwith its inner edge abutting spacer 9. This card extends slightly beyondthe flush side edges of the bound pack, as indicated at I2, tofacilitate withdrawal of the marked card preparatory to insertion ofanother. All of the free ends l3 of the bound and unbound cards areflush in the operative assembly.

In the use of the device, the bound pack, with the cards on oppositesides of recess l0 slightly flexed outwardly so as to take a set, asindicated in Fig. i, is laid face down on a surface or grasped in thisposition by the user. A stack of marked, unbound cards [4 is then placedface down adjacent the end of the bound card pack, as in Fig. 2. Themarked cards may then be inserted, one at a time, in the recess providedtherefor. Thereupon,

the pack is turned with face up, gripped at the stapled end, and thefree ends of the cards flexed laterally, as in Figs. 4 and 5, and thenserially released from under the grip of the thumb, for instance, torapidly and momentarily expose the upper faces of the cards, includingthe marked, unbound card. As shown in Fig. 4, one or more 01 the boundcards may be provided with warning markings, as at l5, while theremaining bound cards, including those intervening between warningmarkings and the marked, unbound card will be blank.

Upon flipping the cards, the effect will be to momentarily expose toview the warning symbols and then the marking or legend which it issought to impress upon the mind of the observer. Figs. 4 and 5 show adiiferent unbound card, bearing a number, inserted within the boundpack. The student may indefinitely vary the tachistoscopic exposuresand, thus, train himself in rapid perception, as is necessary in readingtraining. According to the procedure illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, theuser will not have a previous view of the particular card insertedwithin the pack. Of course, the rapidity with which the cards areflipped determines the duration of the exposure of the tachistoscopicmarking. Also, the length of exposure may be increased by providing'aplurality of identically marked card inserts.

The invention may be modified in various respects as will occur to thoseskilled in the art and the exclusive use of all modifications as comewithin the scope of the appended claims is contemplated.

I claim:

1. A tachistoscope comprising a pack of laterally resilient cards boundat one end and individually free and substantially flush at the other,there being a bound spacer between a pair of adjacent cards providing arecess, and an unbound card slidable in said recess and bearing a markon one face, corresponding faces of the adjacent, bound cards beingblank whereby said marked face may be exposed momentarily upon flexingand serial flipping of the cards.

2. A tachistoscope as described in claim 1 in which the end of one ofthe cards adjacent said recess bears a distinct marking to facilitatelocation of said recess for insertion of said unbound card thereinto.

3. A tachistoscope as described in claim 1 in which said bound cardspresent flush sides and ends, said unbound card, when fully inserted insaid recess projecting slightly beyond the side edges of the bound cardsto facilitate removal thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 853,699 Keen May 14, 1907 865,593 Jenkins Sept. 10, 19071,869,522 Stader Aug. 2, 1932 2,252,725 Peck Aug. 19, 1941

